Response to today's Oregonian Editorial -

“On the Klamath River, pain flows downstream”

 
The following is in response to your editorial “On the Klamath River,
pain flows downstream” dated March 10, 2006.

Your simple-minded evaluation of the complex issue of the west coast
fisheries, specifically the Klamath fisheries, is again Journalism at
its worst. You do nothing to recognize the development of meaningful
progressive relationships from Crater Lake to Half Moon Bay.

Get with it and print the positive instead of repeating the worn out
mantras developed to place blame instead of getting traction on
solutions for everyone.

While you are quick to repeat a questionable connection between
irrigation and a fish die off, you never discuss ocean conditions where
mighty sea lions devour spawning salmon. You never question the
absurdity of being able to kill and can and sell an endangered species.

As we continue to take a holistic approach to natural resource
management and as we value and nurture or relationships with tribal
communities and the fishery based communities, the Oregonian cranks out
reckless garbage that threatens all of our work towards solutions.

What we focus on grows.

W. D. Kennedy
Klamath Falls, OR

W. D. Kennedy owns and operated the Lost River Ranch in the Klamath Basin and is Board Chairman of the Family Farm Alliance.  The Family Farm Alliance is a powerful advocate for family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and allied industries in seventeen Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission - To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers.